Custom Hydraulic Cylinder Design Factors
Several factors influence your custom hydraulic cylinder design, not just the application it’s being applied to. Working load, geometry of motion, stroke length, duty cycle, and mounting needs are all things to consider in designing your custom hydraulic cylinder.
Cylinder Design
Custom hydraulic cylinders come in several designs, though telescopic and welded hydraulic cylinders are the most common. Telescopic hydraulic cylinders feature anywhere from 2 to 5+ nesting stages: the more stages, the longer the possible working stroke.
Single-Acting vs. Double-Acting
Another important custom hydraulic cylinder design consideration is single vs. double acting. As with anything, the type you need depends on the application. If you only need to push loads in one direction and have an external force retract it, a single-acting cylinder might be the best option. Any application requiring controlled pushing and pulling should use a double-acting cylinder.
Working Load
Working load is a critical factor in determining the operating pressure, and size and style of hydraulic cylinder needed for your application.
Bore Size
Cylinder barrel bore size correlates to the force output available for your welded or telescopic hydraulic cylinder. The force produced by the hydraulic cylinder is calculated by multiplying the hydraulic pressure by the area of the internal piston surface. Using this calculation will ensure your cylinder is built with the correct bore size for your application.
Geometry of Motion
After determining the working load, the geometry of the hydraulic cylinder’s motion needs to be considered. A forklift, for example, raises and lowers loads vertically. This makes the calculation straightforward. However, when the motion is off-center from vertical or horizontal, and the lifting force shifts, the required force changes considerably.
Stroke Length
Stroke length is a factor in determining the appropriate rod size for your custom hydraulic cylinder. As the cylinder rod size and stroke length increase, so do the loads inside the bearing surface and the cylinder. Off-the-shelf hydraulic cylinders may only come with one or two rod size options. A custom cylinder is sized appropriately to prevent the rods from buckling under the weight of your load.
Anbao Group is a manufacturer and rebuilder of all kinds of custom hydraulic cylinder. Our cylinders are cycle-tested to their rated working pressure before delivered to customers.